harrow

¹ American  

[har-oh] / ˈhær oʊ /

noun

1. an agricultural implement with spikelike teeth or upright disks, drawn chiefly over plowed land to level it, break up clods, root up weeds, etc.

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verb (used with object)

1. to draw a harrow over (land).

2. to disturb keenly or painfully; distress the mind, feelings, etc., of.

verb (used without object)

1. to become broken up by harrowing, as soil.

harrow ² American  

[har-oh] / ˈhær oʊ /

verb (used with object)

Archaic.

1. to ravish; violate; despoil.

2. harry.

3. (of Christ) to descend into (hell) to free the righteous held captive.

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Harrow ³ American  

[har-oh] / ˈhær oʊ /

noun

1. a borough of Greater London, in SE England.

2. a boarding school for boys, founded in 1571 at Harrow-on-the-Hill, an urban district near London, England.

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harrow ¹ British  

/ ˈhærəʊ /

noun

1. any of various implements used to level the ground, stir the soil, break up clods, destroy weeds, etc, in soil

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verb

1. (tr) to draw a harrow over (land)

2. (intr) (of soil) to become broken up through harrowing

3. (tr) to distress; vex

harrow ² British  

/ ˈhærəʊ /

verb

1. to plunder or ravish

2. (of Christ) to descend into (hell) to rescue righteous souls

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Harrow ³ British  

/ ˈhærəʊ /

noun

1. a borough of NW Greater London; site of an English boys' public school founded in 1571 at Harrow-on-the-Hill, a part of this borough. Pop: 210 700 (2003 est). Area: 51 sq km (20 sq miles)

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Other Word Forms

• harrower noun
• harrowing adjective
• harrowment noun

Etymology

Origin of harrow¹

1250–1300; Middle English harwe; akin to Old Norse herfi harrow, Dutch hark rake, Greek krṓpion sickle

Origin of harrow²

before 1000; Middle English harwen, herwen, Old English hergian to harry

Example Sentences

She argued that too many people "have a horrible, harrowing death" under the current system.

From BBC

Twitch accompanied Major Puff back to the burrow, where a quiet cup of tea was in order after such a harrowing morning.

From Literature

With her increasingly fluent English and photography skills, Mrie finally seeks refuge in the United States — and addresses the behavioral fallout of her harrowing history.

From Los Angeles Times

In the book, subtitled “Love, Loss, and a Really Long Walk,” the author intersperses dispatches from her trip with harrowing personal reflections on marriage, motherhood and the self.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is where some of the most harrowing stories have emerged in this conflict.

From BBC

Related Words

• afflict
• annoy
• bedevil
• bother
• harass
• hound
• hurt
• irritate
• mistreat
• molest
• nag
• pester
• plague
• smite
• tease
• torture
• vex